Until Andy Dalton improves, Cincinnati Bengals cannot be elite

The Cincinnati Bengals entered today’s game with a depleted defense with cornerback Leon Hall and free safety Reggie Nelson out with injures, but nevertheless, they’re once again doing their best to carry the team, but the offense is struggling once again to put points on the board, due in large part to the poor play of quarterback Andy Dalton.

Dalton struggles throughout the game, and could never get on the same page as All-Pro wide receiver A.J. Green. At one point, he missed a deep-strike to Green after he’d beaten cornerback Buster Skrine for what would have been a go-ahead score, but overshot him and they trailed 7-3 at the half.

Thanks to a pair of missed field goals by Browns kicker Billy Cundiff, the Bengals trail by just four points, and will have the ball to start thew second-half.

Dalton didn’t do any better in the second-half, and Dalton was strip-sacked on the opening possession of the third-quarter, and Dalton could never seem to find his rhythm today.

When he last touched the ball with the game still decided by just one score (10-6 w/ 12 minutes left) Dalton was just 18/32 with 171 yards (5.3 ypa) with no TDs or picks and a 71.2 QB rating.

Once he got the ball back, the Bengals were trailing 17-6 and the Browns playing a prevent defense.